Metformin or insulin: logical treatment in women with gestational diabetes in the Middle East, our experience.

Objective: The debate still continues about the preferred modality of treatment of gestational diabetes requiring pharmacological treatment. Insulin was previously considered as the gold standard, but the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence now recommend metformin as the first line drug of choice. The pharmacological management of gestational diabetes mellitus in the Middle East with its high risk population has not been widely published.

Transvaginal postpartum manual removal of a prolapsed submucous leiomyoma, initially diagnosed hybrid predominantly intramural.

We present a rare case of a large infarcted submucous fibroid removed manually after a normal vaginal delivery. This patient was known to have a large postero-fundal hybrid predominantly intramural uterine fibroid, measuring 11 x 10 cm in diameter and diagnosed 2 years prior to last conception. Thirty-five days postpartum, she presented with severe lower abdominal pain and foul smell per vaginum.

Word balloon catheter for Bartholin's cyst and abscess as an office procedure: clinical time gained.

Background: Around 2% of women develop a Bartholin's cyst or abscess at least once in their life time. The use of Word balloon catheter as an office procedure for the management of Bartholin's cyst and abscess has been well described and indicates high patient acceptance, low short-term recurrence rates and reduced cost. In most of the reported studies, the reduced costs are attributed to savings from equipment cost, operating theatre costs and health personnel costs.

Pseudo (platelet-type) von Willebrand disease in pregnancy: a case report.

Background: Pseudo (platelet-type)-von Willebrand disease is a rare autosomal dominant bleeding disorder caused by an abnormal function of the glycoprotein lb protein; the receptor for von Willebrand factor. This leads to an increased removal of VWF multimers from the circulation as well as platelets and this results in a bleeding diathesis. Worldwide, less than 50 patients are reported with platelet type von Willebrand disease (PT-VWD).

Prospective evaluation of combined local bupivacaine and steroid injections for the management of chronic vaginal and perineal pain.

Purpose: Vaginal/perineal pain is common following obstetric trauma or vaginal surgery for prolapse and may have a serious impact on sexual function and quality of life. Local injections of corticosteroids, local anaesthetic and hyaluronidase are treatment options for chronic pain; however, there are no published studies to support their efficacy. The objective of this study was to evaluate prospectively the efficacy of perineal/vaginal injections for chronic localised pain following childbirth or vaginal surgery.

Undiagnosed rectal tumour--a rare cause of obstructed labour in the second stage.

Colorectal cancer presenting in pregnancy is extremely rare. Here the authors present the case of a 25-year-old woman who was diagnosed with second-stage obstructed labour secondary to a large rectal tumour. Decision for emergency caesarean section was made for labour dystocia.

Safer childbirth: a rights-based approach.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set very high targets for women's reproductive health through reductions in maternal and infant mortality, among other things. Reductions in maternal mortality and morbidity can be achieved through various different approaches, such as the confidential review of maternal deaths, use of evidence-based treatments and interventions, using a health systems approach, use of information technology, global and regional partnerships, and making pregnancy safer through initiatives that increase the focus on human rights. A combination of these and other approaches can have a synergistic impact on reductions in maternal mortality.